What is expressive art?
In short: deep inquiry through intentional art practice…
This type of artmaking process is a hands-on approach to direct sensing, internal observation, deep inquiry, and self-reflection.
It’s a non-linear, non-verbal process. Participants create from the heart and body-mind, responding to guided meditations, prompts and questions. This process allows people to investigate what is within, rather than attempting to render what they see outside themselves visually, physically. It’s about giving form to what we know, rather than trying to duplicate how our mind thinks things are.
This type of artmaking is how I myself process, investigate, and work through the issues of my life. It is how I make meaning out of what is happening in my world, and the world around me.
Why do this?
Change occurs, shift happens, and it’s fun…
Shift happens when art is made this way. Change occurs, directly as a result of engaging in conscious creative practices. In short, it works.
What happens?
Engaging authentically and consistently with conscious creative practice can illuminate or shift whatever is being creatively investigated or explored. Artmaking is the mechanism for inquiry. We start by asking a question or setting an intention, and through the activity, such as painting, dancing, sculpting, sewing, we begin to change our understanding of what is true, what is so. We see what is happening within ourselves, within our world, in the very process of deciding how to express that thing through our bodies.
How can I explore Conscious Creative Practices with Margaret Lindsey?
Margaret offers Expressive Art Workshops, Conscious Creativity Events and meditations, Creativity Retreats, one-on-on creative mentoring, group in-services, and custom events and ceremonies.
Check out the events page to see what’s happening on zoom and live…
The creative practices Margaret offers, and practices in her own studio, are similar to automatic writing and authentic movement—a hands-on intuitive approach to deep inquiry and self-reflection. These types of visual art processes activate one’s inner knowing, and facilitate connection to deeper meaning beyond the self, often bringing forth information that hasn't yet become conscious. So art is the tool, basically, for allowing one’s innate ability to see, know, and understand. No experience with art is necessary—the process is equally generative for seasoned artists and creative newbies alike. You can’t do this wrong.
Each individual artmaking journey reveals the power of creating consciously. Guided art practices promote enlightened creating through activities such as guided meditation, visual artmaking, writing, discussion, witness, group practice, and time in nature. Goals include harnessing one’s own creative force field, removing creative and energetic blocks, and connecting to one’s heart.
“I knew there was something inside of me longing to be expressed but unsure what it was or where to start or how to start. I felt totally hopeless and helpless. With Margaret’s guidance I cried, I allowed the suffering I was feeling to come through me by ripping, cutting, poking, stamping, sewing, hammering. She helped me realize it didn't need to be pretty, it needed to be honest, no matter what it looked like.”
— artist Joan Kirkaldie
